School leaders deserve the highest level of investment
It’s not hard to see why we have a shortage of willing and able school leaders. What difference would it make if we prioritised real care and wellbeing support, alongside deep below-the-surface growth?
I am privileged to coach a number of school leaders. I also coach extensively in the corporate world.
The issue can be similar - a fundamental gap between the complexity of the role, and everything that even the most capable, well-equipped, and experienced individual brings to the role at that time.
That 'complexity gap' can erode wellbeing, creating a sense of overwhelm, pain, and anxiety, sometimes putting people in raw survival mode. It can also, however, create challenge, opportunity, and learning.
Wellbeing is of great concern to me - in leaders generally, but most particularly in school leaders. It's no wonder there is a significant issue in creating and maintaining a pipeline of leaders ready, willing, and able to lead schools.
There is not a simple solution - there may be things 'around the edges' that can make for simpler roles and expectations, but by and large, the complexity is not going away.
Maybe one of the things that can help is really investing in deep wellbeing support, and for those leaders with solid wellbeing as a foundation, deeply growing them from the inside out. Walking alongside them, supporting them towards greater mental complexity, to enable them to adapt as fast or faster than the world around them through known developmental coaching and vertical learning methodologies. Literally accelerating their growth in capacity so they can 'see' more, and from there are better able to lead and learn their way forward where there are few easy answers.
I haven't seen many jobs that are more complex, or leaders who are more deserving of the highest level of investment and support.
